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Hesitation Blues

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

A       Amnickel is a E7nickel and a  Amdime is a  Edime
I Amneed a new Egal          Cshe won't C7mind, tell me --
[CHORUS]
     FHow long             do I have to    Cwait?
Can GI    get you G7now,    Lord,     Gmust  I     G7hesi--CtateC7  F  Fm  C  G7  
Well, thAme eagle on the E7dollar says "Amin God we trEust"
AmYou say you want a Eman, I wanna Csee that dollar C7first, tell me--
[CHORUS]
If the Amriver was E7whiskey, and AmI was a E7duck,
You know I'd Amswim to the Ebottom, Lord, an' Cnever come C7up, tell me--
[CHORUS]
AmRocks in the E7ocean, baby, Amfish in the Esea
Amknows you meaEn the Cworld to C7me, tell me—
[CHORUS]
I got my Amhesitation E7stockings and my Amhesitation Eshoes
AmLord, I gEot them CHesitatin' C7Blues, tell me--
How Flong do I have to Cwait?
Can GI get you G7now, Lord, Gmust G7I hestitCate
Said, can GI get you G7now, how long Gmust G7I heCsitate?C7  

All chords in this song (9)

The story behind the song

"Hesitation Blues" captures that timeless feeling of being caught on the brink, yearning for something just out of reach. The lyrics paint a picture of someone ready to dive deep, even "swim to the bottom" and never come up, if only they knew whether to act now or if they "must hesitate." It's a raw expression of longing and the uncertainty of when to seize the moment. This track showcases Jorma Kaukonen's deep roots in blues and folk, a style he explored both with Jefferson Airplane and his long-running project Hot Tuna. At its heart, it's a song about the agony of indecision when desire is strong.

AI-written from these sources:Jorma Kaukonen — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

Hesitation Blues

Hesitation Blues

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Hesitation Blues

by Jorma Kaukonen

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Am E7 Am E

A nickel is a nickel and a dime is a dime

Am E C C7

I need a new gal she won't mind, tell me --

[CHORUS]

F C

How long do I have to wait?

G G7 G G7 C C7 F Fm C G7

Can I get you now, Lord, must I hesi--tate

Am E7 Am E

Well, the eagle on the dollar says "in God we trust"

Am E C C7

You say you want a man, I wanna see that dollar first, tell me--

[CHORUS]

Am E7 Am E7

If the river was whiskey, and I was a duck,

Am E C C7

You know I'd swim to the bottom, Lord, an' never come up, tell me--

[CHORUS]

Am E7 Am E

Rocks in the ocean, baby, fish in the sea

Am E C C7

knows you mean the world to me, tell me—

[CHORUS]

Am E7 Am E

I got my hesitation stockings and my hesitation shoes

Am E C C7

Lord, I got them Hesitatin' Blues, tell me--

F C

How long do I have to wait?

G G7 G G7 C

Can I get you now, Lord, must I hestitate

G G7 G G7 C C7

Said, can I get you now, how long must I hesitate?

About Hesitation Blues Chords by Jorma Kaukonen

Learn how to play Hesitation Blues by Jorma Kaukonen with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Hesitation Blues chords”, “Hesitation Blues guitar chords”, or “Jorma Kaukonen Hesitation Blues chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Hesitation Blues chords and for experienced players who want accurate Hesitation Blues lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, E7, E, A, C, C7.

FAQ — Hesitation Blues by Jorma Kaukonen

How do I play "Hesitation Blues" by Jorma Kaukonen on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Hesitation Blues" by Jorma Kaukonen on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Hesitation Blues" by Jorma Kaukonen free?

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Can I transpose "Hesitation Blues" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Hesitation Blues" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Hesitation Blues"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Hesitation Blues" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Hesitation Blues" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Hesitation Blues" by Jorma Kaukonen with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Jorma Kaukonen below.

What key is "Hesitation Blues" in?

The chords for "Hesitation Blues" show the original chord names (including Am, E7, E, A, C, C7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.